Church Planting: Biblical, Theological, and Missiological Considerations

Abstract

The biblical justification for church planting is generally based in Matthew 28: 18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Other related passages associated with the Great Commission include Luke 24:45-47; John 20:21-23 and Acts 1:8. In all these passages, the emphasis is placed on making disciple of all nations. J. D. Payne notes:The apostolic Church was given the mandate to bear witness to Christ and his resurrection by making disciples of all nations. Though a disciple is made whenever a person places faith in Christ for salvation, discipling is a lifelong process. The best context for both making disciples and discipling—which includes baptism and teaching obedience is the local community of disciples (i.e., the church). This argument even goes back further to Donald A. McGavran, who is considered the father of modern Church Growth Movement. In the book which he coauthored with Arthur F. Glasser, Contemporary Theologies of Mission, McGavran defines “mission” as "carrying the gospel across cultural boundaries to those who owe no allegiance to Jesus Christ, encouraging them to accept Him as Lord and Savior and to become responsible members of His Church, working, as the Holy Spirit leads, at both evangelism and justice, at making God’s will done on earth as it is done in heaven."The primary concern of this position is church planting and it is through planting new churches that disciples are made and nurtured. Therefore, planting churches automatically fulfills the mission of God.